Helmet with retractable annular shield



Nov. 25 1958 w. A. STUART ETAL ,2

HELMET WITH RETRACTABLE ANNULAR SHIELD Filed Feb. 21, 1957 INVENT OR Vwu izaeg JLSiuaI't .LeOzzard GHuxzficZbLe BY m.

ATTORNEY Unimd a Patent HELMET RETRACTABLE ANNULAR SHIELD Whitney A. Stuart, New Brunswick, N. J., and Leonard G. Huxtable, New York, N. Y., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application February 21, 1957, Serial No. 641,779 6 Claims. (Cl. 2-6) The invention relates to protective helmets for the head and more specifically to such helmets which include an auxiliary shield which is retractable from an operative position wherein it affords full protection to an inoperative or retracted position wherein it provides a maximum of coolness and comfort. In the past visors have been provided which may be retracted from lowered to raised positions atop the crown. Also, certain athletic. helmets included ear shields which were hinged to the crown and swingably upwardly to retracted positions. However, neither of these solutions or a combination thereof provide a completely satisfactory solution. helmets are unbalanced, and do not provide maximum comfort or a neat appearance when the parts are retracted.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to provide in combination with a head covering crown piece or crown, an annular auxiliary shield which depends from said crown in encircling overlapping relation when in the operative position but which is retractable upwardly to a retracted position wherein it is substantially entirely above the brim of the crown.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the device, the structure of the several elements which comprise the same, combinations and subcombinatio-ns of such elements, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the drawing which illustrates one species of the invention and to the following specification wherein the invention is described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is an elevational view of a helmet according to the invention the shield being shown in the operative position;

Figure 2 is a like view, the shield being shown in the retracted position;

Figure 3 is a front view, the shield being in the operative position;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 3, but showing the shield in the retracted position; and

Figure 5 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 55 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like parts in all views, designates generally a crown piece or crown. The crown 10 is supported on the head by any suitable headband and cradle which have not been shown to simplify the disclosure. For instance, the supporting means disclosed in the patent to Riddell, No. 2,205,275 is a suspension suitable for use with this helmet.

In the design shown, the crown 10 is preferably in the form of a segment of a hollow sphere and the particular crown 10 illustrated is substantially a hemisphere which has a brim 11 and two laterally oppositely disposed depending ears 12 which mount coaxial pivots 13. The brim 11 and the axis of the pivots 13 lie substantially In addition the above such diametral plane.

i on the diametral plane of the crown 10. Actually,.as

shown, the crown 10 is slightly less than a hemisphere.

The shield according to the invention is generally designated by 14 and comprisesan annularsegment of a hollow sphere which is slightly larger than that forming the crown 10. The shield 14 being in the operative position of Figure 1, has an upper edge 15 which is con centric to the brim 11 outwardly thereof. The upper edge 15 is in a plane which is parallel to and slightly above the diametral plane of the sphereof which the shield 14 is a segment and is formed with a two upwardly extending ears16 through. which the pivots 13 extend with their axes alignedwith the edgelll of crown.10 The back of the upper edge 15 includes a radially outwardly projecting portion 17 the purpose of which will be apparent hereinafter.

The shield 14 includes a relatively wide, combined neck-ear-cheek shield portion 18 and a relativelynarrow visor 19. The combined shield portion 18 at least is formed to have a fairly closefit with thoseareas covered therebybut is slightly spaced therefrom. Theshield 14 is formed of material which isv sufficiently flexible that it may be spread enough to permit the helmet to be put on and takenolf. Thus, with the parts in the operative position illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 5, the. helmet affords maximum protection- When such maximum protection is not needed, the helmet is taken off and the shield 14 is pivoted relative to the crown 10 through to the retracted position illustrated in Figures 2 and 4. In this position, the shield 14 is still concentric to the crown 10 because the two segments have a common axis and because in the operative position, the shield is a segment of a hollow sphere which is inverted relative to the crown 10. Also, in the retracted position, the shield 14 is substantially entirely above the brim 11. It should be noted also, that the projection 17 of the upper edge 15 now projects farwardly and provides an eye shade. Obviously, with the shield 14 in the retracted position, it may tilt slightly either forwardly or rearwardly to increase or decrease the utility of the eye shade 17.

It is clear from the foregoing, that when the shield 14 is in the retracted position the maximum of coolness and comfort is achieved while still retaining the protection afforded by the crown 10. Also, the parts are substantially in balance so that no discomfort results from prolonged wearing of the helmet with the shield in the retracted position. To return the shieldto the operative position, the helmet is taken off and the parts rotated to such position. Any suitable latch means, not shown, may be used to readily detachably secure the shield and crown in both positions. As shown, the crown 10 and shield 14 comprise a complete helmet. However, it may be formed as a shell to fit over a helmet liner, in which case, of course, the suspension mentioned earlier would be in the liner and would be omitted from the parts shown herein.

Also, although there has been shown and described what is now thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, we do not limit ourselves to the precise structures shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

- l. A helmet comprising a crown, having a brim, an annular auxiliary shield having an upper edge, a pair of coaxial pivots pivotally connecting said shield to said crown for pivotal movement relative thereto from an operative position wherein said shield depends from said crown in encircling relation with said upper edge overlapping said brim so as to provide an extension of said br'iiniin-all directionseto:a:retracted position wherein said shieldis. disposed, upside down. substantially entirely...

above said brim, and said shield including a radially outwardly extending portion providing a downwardly directedxeyensha'de when said shieldsis in saidgretracted position; i

I2'...A 'helmet-comprising: a crown having a'brim, said crown-comprising; a. segment of a. hollow sphere, an auxiliary shield comprising. an. annular segment of, a slightly larger'hollow sphere,:said shield. having an upper edge, a pair of coaxial :pivotsfipivbtally connecting said crown and shield together in. concentric relation with saidrupperedge of said shield overlapping said brim so; aszto provide .anextension :of said *brim in all directions; "and said shield being pivotally movable from an toperative position wherein it .is. disposed substantially entirely below said brimto 2a retracted position wherein upside down and substantially entirely above said brim.

3r.A helmet, comprising acrown having a brim, an imn'tilarauxiliary .shieldrhaving an =upper edge, a pair of-coaxial pivot means extending transversely .of said :crown and shield and pivo'tally connecting oppositesides :of. the twaintogether for relative pivotal movement from an operative position. wherein said shield depends .from said crown. with said upper edge overlapping said brim so asto. provide an. extension. of said, brim in all directions .toa retracted :position 'wherein said shield is dislposed upside down substantially entirely abovesaid brim. 4.1K :helmet according to:claim 3, wherein. said crown comprises a substantially hemispherical segment of a hollow sphere, said shield comprising an annular segment of a slightly larger hollow sphere, and said shield being concentric to said crown when in both of said positions.

5. A helmet according to claim 3, wherein said crown and shield comprise respectively hemispherical and annular segments of hollow spheres of slightly different size, and' said pivot-means being disposed adjacent the diametral planes of said spheres.

6. A helmet according to claim 1, wherein said last named portion is formed in said upper edge of :said shield and extends upwardly andjrearwardly when said shield is "in said operative position.

ReferencesCitedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES- PATENTS 691,623 Harris Jan. 21, 1902 1,677,187 .Leibson, July .17, 1 928 2,421,427 Mamlin. et a1 June .3, 1941 2,629,095. Kleinman Feb, '24, 1955 OTHER REFERENCES Helmets and Body Armour in Modern War-fareg" copyright 1920 -by Yale University Press, page 90, Figures 37, -38 and 38A. (Copy in Division 24.) Book Collection.

Helmets and Body Armour in Modern Warfare, copyright 1920 by'Yale'University Press, page 102, Figure 49. *(Copy in Div. 24;) 

